This was a short comfort fic written in response to a public H/R request at LiveJournal. The theme was 'Hold Me 'Til I'm Sleeping,' and I rose to the occasion, as mad as I am about fluffy Harry/Ron. Here, it's dedicated to just about everyone who have read all my previous HP fics, and given good reviews. Your encouragment it my inspiration.

Title: Hold You 'Til You're Sleeping

Summary: A question for Harry. Luckily, the answer's been there all along.

Rating: Tame PG-13

Disclaimer: Not mine, not mine, totally overflowing with not-mineability.

Author: Ellie ET

Hold You 'Til You're Sleeping

"Can I ask you a question?" Ron threw his Chocolate Frog cards down on his lap and glanced over at Harry, lying on the bench next to him.

"Hm?" Harry lifted one arm from where he had thrown it across his face to block out the sun's rays. "Yeah, OK then."

"Alright – when you were living at the Dursleys, did you ever wish for someone to be there? Y'know, someone who was on your side?"

Harry blinked before sitting up. "Good question." He shrugged somewhat thoughtfully. "I suppose that would've been nice, yeah. Someone to talk to…"

"… Someone to sit with…" Ron volunteered encouragingly, "…someone to do homework with…"

"…Someone to eat with…" Harry continued, "… someone to lie down with…"

"Maybe even someone to hold you 'till you're sleeping."

Harry, who had been looking around at their garden while listening to Ron, glanced sideways at him. Then he shuffled closer and curled up on the bench next to him, resting his head on Ron's lap. Turning onto his back, he stared up at him, giving a small smile.

"I like to think…" He raised both of his hands, "…that…" He placed them gently on either side of Ron's face, "…I've already got them. That I always had them."

Ron shrugged, smiling a little nervously, face turning the colour of the sunset. Harry felt the heat beneath his fingers.

"So kiss me and don't think so wet," he smiled fondly up at the redhead. Their eyes met and they both chuckled quietly together, a secret joke that just seemed humourous because it was them. Together.

"Oh, OK, then." Ron bent down and pressed his mouth against Harry's. Harry grinned into the kiss and wrapped an arm around Ron, around his redhead.

"I still can't believe this is real," he confessed, as Ron pulled back gently. "I can't believe that we got this far. I can't believe I actually – y'know – found you." He squeezed Ron slightly, and Ron squeezed back.

"Just to prove it's real," the redhead offered, "Tonight I'll hold you 'til you're sleeping."

Fin.